Greg McElroy says Penn State will be in a 'great spot' when College Football Playoff expands

Making the College Football Playoff is the endgame for every team in the sport. Winning 10-plus games is great and winning big-time bowl games is even better. With that said, until you break through into that field? It can feel like you’re a step behind. Luckily for the Nittany Lions, though, Greg McElroy believes it won’t be long before they make their CFP debut.

McElroy shared his thoughts on the outlook of Penn State football on ‘Always College Football’. For him, he doesn’t see anything happening with the field still set at four this season. However, once expansion comes, he says they will then be in a very good spot to make some postseason noise.

“I’m not necessarily convinced, at this moment right now in early April, that they are going to make a playoff run in 2023. I’m not convinced this year,” McElroy said. “But I am pretty convinced that they’re going to be around for a while. And when the playoffs expand? Penn State is going to be in a great spot.”

Penn State has been very good over James Franklin’s tenure, specifically after his first two seasons. They’ve posted four seasons with 11 wins and won four bowl games in their eight appearances. The AP Poll has also ranked the Nittany Lions in the Top-10 of the AP Poll at some point in each of the last seven seasons.

Still, the selection committee has left them behind in the playoff era, specifically due to some other powers in the Big Ten. Although they’re about to add two more big brands to the league, McElroy believes Penn State will be able to remain near the top of the conference and, in doing so, within playoff contention.

“Right now, you welcome in USC and UCLA. Where’s Penn State in the pecking order? Ohio State is one, Michigan is one. Then there’s a little bit of a gap,” said McElroy. “Is Penn State right behind USC? At three behind USC at two?…How far down the list do you have to get until you get to Penn State? Not very far. They’re in a pretty good spot. So, for the foreseeable future, they’re in really good shape.”

We’ll have to wait and see how this next season goes for the Nittany Lions before we make any plans for them come expansion. Even so, the path is there for Penn State to start competing for the big prize here soon, at least in McElroy’s eyes.